Just three years ago Ronaldo joined Madrid in a world-record 80 million pound deal from United, and reports in Spain suggested Ronaldo's unhappiness is being caused by Madrid's refusal to hand him a new contract worth a staggering 500,000 pounds-a-week.

But sources close to Ronaldo have rubbished these reports, saying he has been hurt by a lack of respect from teammates, and United is ready to pounce on the opportunity.

"The manager made it clear when Ronaldo joined Real that if he ever left the -Bernabeu he should return to Old Trafford," the Daily Mail quoted a United source, as saying.

"It's a transfer that would prove that United can still compete with anyone for the biggest names in -football. But, at the moment, only Ronaldo knows whether he is serious about leaving Madrid or whether he's just having a sulk," the source added.

Ronaldo has an 800 million pound buy-out clause in his contract, but Madrid president Florentino Perez is so annoyed with the lack of respect the winger has shown, that it is believed he will consider anything in excess of 100 million pounds, the paper said.

That would really test Ferguson's claim that United's owners have never turned him down when it comes to transfer targets, it added. (ANI)

those numbers are ridiculous on many levels. the most important probably being that they're completely false. ronaldo has proved himself a great player. i wasnt a fan of him in his early old trafford years but then he got better at producing an end product and became what he is today. just a great footballer. a knob, but a great footballer. ronaldo knows he's good and that's half his problem. but i reckon all this is just him posturing for a bank breaking deal at his current club. and how long will fergie even be around? he aint gonna win with this current team the midfield is too weak.